KEARNEY – Patricia Hoehner’s impact on education extends across the state, from K-12 schools to colleges and universities.

She’s mentored and inspired countless students, teachers, administrators and colleagues during her career.

On Friday, the University of Nebraska at Kearney recognized Hoehner for her decades of dedication to the education field. She received the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award during UNK’s winter commencement ceremony.

The university’s most prestigious faculty honor, the award is presented each year to an individual who demonstrates excellence in teaching, research and service. It’s named after UNK alumnus Leland Holdt and comes with a $5,000 stipend.

Hoehner received a remarkable 13 letters of support, an indication of the many lives she’s influenced.

“Pat has truly dedicated her life’s work to impacting education. Students across Nebraska will continue to benefit from the influence she has had on administrators of public schools for many years to come,” stated Scott Unruh, a professor of athletic training and assistant dean in the UNK College of Education.

Born and raised on a wheat farm in Kansas, Hoehner attended high school in McCook before enrolling at UNK. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education, master’s degree in educational administration and education specialist degree from UNK, along with a Doctor of Education in administration, curriculum and instruction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Hoehner taught in Overton and Bertrand, then moved to McCook, where she developed a public school program for gifted learners. She also worked as a school administrator.

A faculty member since 1998, Hoehner was the first full-time professor in educational administration at UNK and later served as the first female chair of the department, a position she held for five years.

“When Dr. Hoehner arrived on campus, she became a windshield warrior. EDAD faculty were driving miles to teach their students,” Martonia Gaskill, an associate professor of teacher education, noted. “While she was the department chair, there was a move toward online classes, and she took the lead by attending workshops and seminars to ensure the quality of teaching was not going to diminish by moving from face-to-face classes to the online format.”

Thanks to her vision and guidance, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/edad/index.php">educational administration program</a>&nbsp;continues to grow.

More than 80 current Nebraska school superintendents and 200-plus principals have an educational administration degree from UNK, along with numerous special education directors. The program has its highest-ever enrollment this semester, with 145 people pursuing degrees or endorsements to serve in these positions.

“In the world of education, we encounter many individuals along the way who make a difference in our lives. Dr. Hoehner is one with whom I have the deepest gratitude and immense respect for the impact she has had on both my personal and professional lives,” wrote Stephanie Kaczor, superintendent at Riverside Public Schools. “Her dedication to teaching and her passion for lifelong learning have had a profound influence on my academic journey and shaped my future in ways I could not have imagined.”

Kaczor called Hoehner a role model for women in education who challenged her students to go above and beyond while providing continuous support both inside and outside the classroom.

“In the years following my time at UNK, her encouragement and guidance continued to inspire me to delve deeper into education, and her constructive feedback and advice motivated me to strive for excellence,” she wrote. “Her unwavering support has empowered me to overcome challenges and pursue academic and professional opportunities that at times I thought would be out of my reach.”

Mitch Kubicek, director of learning at Milford Public Schools, echoed those thoughts. He described Hoehner as a responsible, energetic and good-humored teacher who is passionate about education and the development of educational leaders.

“Dr. Hoehner is an outstanding educator in all respects. She possesses a strong background in content and experience in education, consistently demonstrates effective pedagogical skills, and has shown a commitment to supporting and advocating for her students and for the educational community. She is someone who I can contact to discuss a difficult issue, and she always provides sound advice and consistently offers guidance and support. I am fortunate to have been able to get to know her,” he stated.

A former president of the Nebraska Association of School Administrators, Hoehner also advances education through her service. She’s a member of the Nebraska Department of Education State Accreditation Committee and UNK Faculty Senate and has served on the UNK Alumni Association Board of Directors and numerous campus committees.

Her research has contributed to several textbooks and other publications, and she’s presented at state, national and international conferences as a recognized expert on education-related topics.

“Dr. Hoehner is an active participant in a number of the activities serving on state committees and leading conferences. She is always ready to help and represent central Nebraska. She helps ensure that topics at the state meetings and conferences focus on current research, bringing the best scholarship to the table or to the conferences. Her service to the profession is worthy of mention because she is good at it and takes it seriously. She is a leader in central Nebraska for both students and teachers. She carries the banner of the university and the banner of a model for service to the profession and to the university community,” stated Doug Christensen, the former state education commissioner and a professor emeritus at Doane University.

In addition to the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award, Hoehner has received the UNK Leadership in Education and Service Award, College of Education Outstanding Service Award, Nebraska Association for the Gifted Extra Mile Award and Fischer Family Hall of Fame Award recognizing outstanding contributions to Nebraska high school sports.

Hoehner and her family are longtime supporters of UNK athletic and academic programs, including a gift that allowed the College of Education to renovate and upgrade a frequently used conference room. That space is now known as the Hoehner Family Conference Room.

All told, members of the Hoehner family have received nearly 30 degrees from UNK.

“Dr. Hoehner bleeds blue and is a true supporter of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She exemplifies UNK in every sense,” according to her colleagues Gaskill and Unruh.

“The impact she’s had on the scholastic landscape is indescribable and may never be measured,” Unruh added.

Here’s what others had to say about professor Patricia Hoehner:

“During the time I have known Dr. Hoehner, it has become obvious to me that she is a person of integrity. She works diligently to build relationships with those who surround her. She conscientiously states her opinion in a diplomatic manner while still being very straightforward. Additionally, she communicates high expectations for all and models what commitment to any process entails. In short, Dr. Hoehner is competent, articulate, genuine and people-centered. I consider her both a valued mentor and a friend.” –&nbsp;Jan Hoegh, educational author and consultant for Marzano Resources-Solution Tree and Leading, Aspiring, and Achieving, LLC

“During my time with UNK, I had the privilege of working with many wonderful, intelligent, creative people. In every category that I can think of, Dr. Patricia is at the top of every list. She is very deserving of the very prestigious and coveted Leland Holdt Award. I know there will be some wonderful and deserving faculty who should qualify for the Leland Holdt Award, too. There are none this year, however, who are as deserving as our Dr. Patricia Hoehner.”&nbsp;– Scott Fredrickson, UNK professor emeritus

“Dr. Hoehner’s unwavering commitment to the intellectual and personal development of her students is second to none. I have several advanced degrees, and I can honestly say the courses I have taken from Dr. Hoehner have been the most memorable and impactful. Importantly, I am not alone when it comes to this sentiment. Her stimulating and inclusive teaching methods are not only innovative, but also deeply rooted in pedagogical theory, ensuring that her students receive a comprehensive and stimulating education. Dr. Hoehner is not just a teacher; she is a mentor who invests considerable time and effort in nurturing the potential of her students. Her passion for education is infectious, inspiring both her colleagues and students alike.”&nbsp;– Kraig Lofquist, executive director, ESU Coordinating Council

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702920799330.jpeg" alt="UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen presents the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award to professor Patricia Hoehner during Friday’s winter commencement ceremony at the Health and Sports Center on campus. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)" />
 <figcaption>UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen presents the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award to professor Patricia Hoehner during Friday’s winter commencement ceremony at the Health and Sports Center on campus. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TYLER ELLYSONUNK CommunicationsKEARNEY – Patricia Hoehner’s impact on education extends across the state, from K-12 schools to colleges and universities.She’s mentored and inspired countless students, teachers, administrators and colleagues during her career.On Friday, the University of Nebraska at Kearney recognized Hoehner for her decades of dedication to the education field. She received the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award during UNK’s winter commencement ceremony.The university’s most prestigious faculty honor, the award is presented each year to an individual who demonstrates excellence in teaching, research and service. It’s named after UNK alumnus Leland Holdt and comes with a $5,000 stipend.Hoehner received a remarkable 13 letters of support, an indication of the many lives she’s influenced.“Pat has truly dedicated her life’s work to impacting education. Students across Nebraska will continue to benefit from the influence she has had on administrators of public schools for many years to come,” stated Scott Unruh, a professor of athletic training and assistant dean in the UNK College of Education.Born and raised on a wheat farm in Kansas, Hoehner attended high school in McCook before enrolling at UNK. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education, master’s degree in educational administration and education specialist degree from UNK, along with a Doctor of Education in administration, curriculum and instruction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Hoehner taught in Overton and Bertrand, then moved to McCook, where she developed a public school program for gifted learners. She also worked as a school administrator.A faculty member since 1998, Hoehner was the first full-time professor in educational administration at UNK and later served as the first female chair of the department, a position she held for five years.“When Dr. Hoehner arrived on campus, she became a windshield warrior. EDAD faculty were driving miles to teach their students,” Martonia Gaskill, an associate professor of teacher education, noted. “While she was the department chair, there was a move toward online classes, and she took the lead by attending workshops and seminars to ensure the quality of teaching was not going to diminish by moving from face-to-face classes to the online format.”Thanks to her vision and guidance, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unk.edu/academics/edad/index.php">educational administration program</a>&nbsp;continues to grow.More than 80 current Nebraska school superintendents and 200-plus principals have an educational administration degree from UNK, along with numerous special education directors. The program has its highest-ever enrollment this semester, with 145 people pursuing degrees or endorsements to serve in these positions.“In the world of education, we encounter many individuals along the way who make a difference in our lives. Dr. Hoehner is one with whom I have the deepest gratitude and immense respect for the impact she has had on both my personal and professional lives,” wrote Stephanie Kaczor, superintendent at Riverside Public Schools. “Her dedication to teaching and her passion for lifelong learning have had a profound influence on my academic journey and shaped my future in ways I could not have imagined.”Kaczor called Hoehner a role model for women in education who challenged her students to go above and beyond while providing continuous support both inside and outside the classroom.“In the years following my time at UNK, her encouragement and guidance continued to inspire me to delve deeper into education, and her constructive feedback and advice motivated me to strive for excellence,” she wrote. “Her unwavering support has empowered me to overcome challenges and pursue academic and professional opportunities that at times I thought would be out of my reach.”Mitch Kubicek, director of learning at Milford Public Schools, echoed those thoughts. He described Hoehner as a responsible, energetic and good-humored teacher who is passionate about education and the development of educational leaders.“Dr. Hoehner is an outstanding educator in all respects. She possesses a strong background in content and experience in education, consistently demonstrates effective pedagogical skills, and has shown a commitment to supporting and advocating for her students and for the educational community. She is someone who I can contact to discuss a difficult issue, and she always provides sound advice and consistently offers guidance and support. I am fortunate to have been able to get to know her,” he stated.A former president of the Nebraska Association of School Administrators, Hoehner also advances education through her service. She’s a member of the Nebraska Department of Education State Accreditation Committee and UNK Faculty Senate and has served on the UNK Alumni Association Board of Directors and numerous campus committees.Her research has contributed to several textbooks and other publications, and she’s presented at state, national and international conferences as a recognized expert on education-related topics.“Dr. Hoehner is an active participant in a number of the activities serving on state committees and leading conferences. She is always ready to help and represent central Nebraska. She helps ensure that topics at the state meetings and conferences focus on current research, bringing the best scholarship to the table or to the conferences. Her service to the profession is worthy of mention because she is good at it and takes it seriously. She is a leader in central Nebraska for both students and teachers. She carries the banner of the university and the banner of a model for service to the profession and to the university community,” stated Doug Christensen, the former state education commissioner and a professor emeritus at Doane University.In addition to the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award, Hoehner has received the UNK Leadership in Education and Service Award, College of Education Outstanding Service Award, Nebraska Association for the Gifted Extra Mile Award and Fischer Family Hall of Fame Award recognizing outstanding contributions to Nebraska high school sports.Hoehner and her family are longtime supporters of UNK athletic and academic programs, including a gift that allowed the College of Education to renovate and upgrade a frequently used conference room. That space is now known as the Hoehner Family Conference Room.All told, members of the Hoehner family have received nearly 30 degrees from UNK.“Dr. Hoehner bleeds blue and is a true supporter of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She exemplifies UNK in every sense,” according to her colleagues Gaskill and Unruh.“The impact she’s had on the scholastic landscape is indescribable and may never be measured,” Unruh added.<h2>Here’s what others had to say about professor Patricia Hoehner:</h2>“During the time I have known Dr. Hoehner, it has become obvious to me that she is a person of integrity. She works diligently to build relationships with those who surround her. She conscientiously states her opinion in a diplomatic manner while still being very straightforward. Additionally, she communicates high expectations for all and models what commitment to any process entails. In short, Dr. Hoehner is competent, articulate, genuine and people-centered. I consider her both a valued mentor and a friend.” –&nbsp;Jan Hoegh, educational author and consultant for Marzano Resources-Solution Tree and Leading, Aspiring, and Achieving, LLC“During my time with UNK, I had the privilege of working with many wonderful, intelligent, creative people. In every category that I can think of, Dr. Patricia is at the top of every list. She is very deserving of the very prestigious and coveted Leland Holdt Award. I know there will be some wonderful and deserving faculty who should qualify for the Leland Holdt Award, too. There are none this year, however, who are as deserving as our Dr. Patricia Hoehner.”&nbsp;– Scott Fredrickson, UNK professor emeritus“Dr. Hoehner’s unwavering commitment to the intellectual and personal development of her students is second to none. I have several advanced degrees, and I can honestly say the courses I have taken from Dr. Hoehner have been the most memorable and impactful. Importantly, I am not alone when it comes to this sentiment. Her stimulating and inclusive teaching methods are not only innovative, but also deeply rooted in pedagogical theory, ensuring that her students receive a comprehensive and stimulating education. Dr. Hoehner is not just a teacher; she is a mentor who invests considerable time and effort in nurturing the potential of her students. Her passion for education is infectious, inspiring both her colleagues and students alike.”&nbsp;– Kraig Lofquist, executive director, ESU Coordinating Council

‘She exemplifies UNK in every sense’: Patricia Hoehner recognized with Distinguished Faculty Award

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/18/more-than-200-at-unl-continue-to-protest-proposed-diversity-inclusion-cuts/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;When Nyarial Nyoak came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in fall 2020, under the shadows of COVID-19,&nbsp;she says UNL’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts provided community.

Nyoak, a political science major now in her senior year, said efforts from UNL’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services smoothed the transition to college. Staff in those areas provided cultural awareness and lifelong learning, lessons that Nyoak says she and her friends are using to give back to those around them.

Now, UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett has proposed significantly cutting&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/27/unl-proposes-restructuring-slashing-budget-of-diversity-and-inclusion-office/">the budget of the two offices</a>, and Nyoak was among more than 200 faculty, staff and students pushing back in a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Letter-to-Chancellor-Bennett.pdf">joint letter two weeks ago</a>.

Bennett proposed $12 million in budget cuts Nov. 8, including $800,000 to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services. The cuts are meant to close a budget deficit largely fueled by declining enrollment.&nbsp;

The $800,000 is a cut of about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/offices-policies/business-and-finance-office/docs/budget-salary-information/2023-2024/2023-2024-budget-by-department_volume-1_unl.pdf">46% combined</a>&nbsp;for the two.

Under the proposal, the diversity and inclusion office would be restructured from a central hub to a role primarily supporting campus-wide priorities or initiatives. DEI work would be focused in colleges, departments and units. Three filled staff positions would be eliminated in the offices.

Nyoak said the programs changed her life for the better as students look for resources and seek out individuals who look like them. Those are the experiences that make college worthwhile, she added.

For example, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, of which Nyoak is president, hosted a study night last week during finals. Students stayed and talked about life in general, Nyoak said, remaining on campus until 5 a.m.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council nationwide consists of the nine historically Black Greek letter organizations.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unl.edu/greek/national-pan-hellenic-council">Five are represented at UNL</a>.

Through the two programs, Nyoak also connected with Charlie Foster, known by many as Miss Charlie, who, like Nyoak, is a Zeta Phi Beta sorority sister.

“Being able to have her as a resource and a mentor to talk to has made my experience so much better on campus,” Nyoak said. “To see that that experience could potentially be taken away due to the budget cuts is kind of just heartbreaking.”

Two weeks ago, a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Letter-to-Chancellor-Bennett.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;from 200 faculty, staff and students was circulated for about 24 hours by members of AFIRE —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cehs.unl.edu/afire/">Advocating for Inclusion, Respect and Equity</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;in the College of Education and Human Sciences before being sent to Bennett on Dec. 7.

“Budgets are moral documents as they reflect the values of an organization,” the letter states. “Such a drastic cut to diversity and inclusion efforts within our campus is the antithesis to the mission of the university.”

Other student organization leaders, in addition to Nyoak, signed on behalf of:

Crystal Garcia, an assistant professor of educational administration and co-leader of AFIRE, said she has not received a response or confirmation that their letter was received.

“It’s just been radio silence and … the uncertainty of, do we matter?” Garcia said. “Does our voice really matter? Does what we have to say matter?”

Leslie Reed, a UNL spokesperson, did not respond before publication to the question of whether the AFIRE letter was received but said she does not expect next steps on the budget until January.

She pointed to Bennett’s past comments that all those engaged with the budget process “recognize its significant effort on UNL faculty, students and staff.”

“The university has no choice but to make difficult decisions to address a structural budget deficit, and we are proceeding in a manner that allows us to continue to fulfill our mission as Nebraska’s land-grant and flagship university and remains consistent with our status as a Carnegie R1 institution,” Bennett said in the statement to the Nebraska Examiner.

Bennett started at UNL on&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/university-of-nebraska-president-details-five-point-plan-to-get-nu-back-on-offense/">July 1</a>&nbsp;and is the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/06/unl-chancellor-candidate-addresses-diversity-equity-inclusion-at-tuesday-forum/">first person of color</a>&nbsp;in the UNL chancellor role.

The University of Nebraska system still must close about&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/central-nebraskas-unk-finalizes-2-3-million-in-proposed-academic-cuts/">$54 million</a>&nbsp;of its&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/university-of-nebraska-president-details-five-point-plan-to-get-nu-back-on-offense/">$58 million budget shortfall</a>&nbsp;projected over the next two years, on top of the $12 million ongoing at UNL.

Garcia, whose research focuses on the experiences of minoritized college students, said there are significant disparities in educational attainment due to myriad identity factors, particularly race and ethnicity. She fears these gaps could increase with the proposed cuts.

DEI work isn’t going away, Garcia added, but work dynamics will change because of efforts to decentralize the central Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

“You’re going to be diluting those efforts, or you’re going to be expecting people to do a lot of unpaid work and add to already very stressful and overworked educators’ plates,” Garcia said.

Stephanie Bondi, an associate professor of practice in the Department of Educational Administration and AFIRE co-leader, said UNL is so large she can go a year without seeing her colleagues, so the DEI work will happen in pockets without central support.

“They threaten so many aspects of the institution as a whole,” Bondi said of the cuts, pointing to UNL’s strategic priorities, enrollment and graduation rates.

While she is thankful to graduate in May, Nyoak said, she worries about prospective students. Nyoak said she is talking about the proposals with her younger brothers.

“I hate saying expect the worst, pray for the best,” Nyoak said. “But right now, a lot of us are just expecting the worst to happen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702916950099.jpeg" alt="Marco Barker, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. June 19, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Marco Barker, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. June 19, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/18/more-than-200-at-unl-continue-to-protest-proposed-diversity-inclusion-cuts/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;When Nyarial Nyoak came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in fall 2020, under the shadows of COVID-19,&nbsp;she says UNL’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts provided community.Nyoak, a political science major now in her senior year, said efforts from UNL’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services smoothed the transition to college. Staff in those areas provided cultural awareness and lifelong learning, lessons that Nyoak says she and her friends are using to give back to those around them.Now, UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett has proposed significantly cutting&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/11/27/unl-proposes-restructuring-slashing-budget-of-diversity-and-inclusion-office/">the budget of the two offices</a>, and Nyoak was among more than 200 faculty, staff and students pushing back in a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Letter-to-Chancellor-Bennett.pdf">joint letter two weeks ago</a>.Bennett proposed $12 million in budget cuts Nov. 8, including $800,000 to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services. The cuts are meant to close a budget deficit largely fueled by declining enrollment.&nbsp;The $800,000 is a cut of about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/offices-policies/business-and-finance-office/docs/budget-salary-information/2023-2024/2023-2024-budget-by-department_volume-1_unl.pdf">46% combined</a>&nbsp;for the two.Under the proposal, the diversity and inclusion office would be restructured from a central hub to a role primarily supporting campus-wide priorities or initiatives. DEI work would be focused in colleges, departments and units. Three filled staff positions would be eliminated in the offices.<h2>Finding community</h2>Nyoak said the programs changed her life for the better as students look for resources and seek out individuals who look like them. Those are the experiences that make college worthwhile, she added.For example, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, of which Nyoak is president, hosted a study night last week during finals. Students stayed and talked about life in general, Nyoak said, remaining on campus until 5 a.m.The National Pan-Hellenic Council nationwide consists of the nine historically Black Greek letter organizations.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unl.edu/greek/national-pan-hellenic-council">Five are represented at UNL</a>.Through the two programs, Nyoak also connected with Charlie Foster, known by many as Miss Charlie, who, like Nyoak, is a Zeta Phi Beta sorority sister.“Being able to have her as a resource and a mentor to talk to has made my experience so much better on campus,” Nyoak said. “To see that that experience could potentially be taken away due to the budget cuts is kind of just heartbreaking.”<h2>Cuts ‘antithesis’ to UNL’s mission</h2>Two weeks ago, a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Letter-to-Chancellor-Bennett.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;from 200 faculty, staff and students was circulated for about 24 hours by members of AFIRE —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cehs.unl.edu/afire/">Advocating for Inclusion, Respect and Equity</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;in the College of Education and Human Sciences before being sent to Bennett on Dec. 7.“Budgets are moral documents as they reflect the values of an organization,” the letter states. “Such a drastic cut to diversity and inclusion efforts within our campus is the antithesis to the mission of the university.”Other student organization leaders, in addition to Nyoak, signed on behalf of:<ul>
 <li>Afrikan People’s Union.</li><li>Asian Student Union.</li><li>Define American Chapter.</li><li>First Generation Student Organization.</li><li>Mexican American Student Association.</li><li>oSTEM at UNL (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).</li><li>Spectrum UNL.</li><li>TRANScend.</li>
 </ul><h2>‘Do we matter?’</h2>Crystal Garcia, an assistant professor of educational administration and co-leader of AFIRE, said she has not received a response or confirmation that their letter was received.“It’s just been radio silence and … the uncertainty of, do we matter?” Garcia said. “Does our voice really matter? Does what we have to say matter?”Leslie Reed, a UNL spokesperson, did not respond before publication to the question of whether the AFIRE letter was received but said she does not expect next steps on the budget until January.She pointed to Bennett’s past comments that all those engaged with the budget process “recognize its significant effort on UNL faculty, students and staff.”“The university has no choice but to make difficult decisions to address a structural budget deficit, and we are proceeding in a manner that allows us to continue to fulfill our mission as Nebraska’s land-grant and flagship university and remains consistent with our status as a Carnegie R1 institution,” Bennett said in the statement to the Nebraska Examiner.Bennett started at UNL on&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/university-of-nebraska-president-details-five-point-plan-to-get-nu-back-on-offense/">July 1</a>&nbsp;and is the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/06/unl-chancellor-candidate-addresses-diversity-equity-inclusion-at-tuesday-forum/">first person of color</a>&nbsp;in the UNL chancellor role.The University of Nebraska system still must close about&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/central-nebraskas-unk-finalizes-2-3-million-in-proposed-academic-cuts/">$54 million</a>&nbsp;of its&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/university-of-nebraska-president-details-five-point-plan-to-get-nu-back-on-offense/">$58 million budget shortfall</a>&nbsp;projected over the next two years, on top of the $12 million ongoing at UNL.<h2>‘Expecting the worst’</h2>Garcia, whose research focuses on the experiences of minoritized college students, said there are significant disparities in educational attainment due to myriad identity factors, particularly race and ethnicity. She fears these gaps could increase with the proposed cuts.DEI work isn’t going away, Garcia added, but work dynamics will change because of efforts to decentralize the central Office of Diversity and Inclusion.“You’re going to be diluting those efforts, or you’re going to be expecting people to do a lot of unpaid work and add to already very stressful and overworked educators’ plates,” Garcia said.Stephanie Bondi, an associate professor of practice in the Department of Educational Administration and AFIRE co-leader, said UNL is so large she can go a year without seeing her colleagues, so the DEI work will happen in pockets without central support.“They threaten so many aspects of the institution as a whole,” Bondi said of the cuts, pointing to UNL’s strategic priorities, enrollment and graduation rates.While she is thankful to graduate in May, Nyoak said, she worries about prospective students. Nyoak said she is talking about the proposals with her younger brothers.“I hate saying expect the worst, pray for the best,” Nyoak said. “But right now, a lot of us are just expecting the worst to happen.”

More than 200 at UNL continue to protest proposed diversity, inclusion cuts

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A body was found early Sunday after a Nebraska house explosion that authorities say was likely caused by “destructive devices.”

Police in Hastings said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HastingsPoliceDepartmentNebraska/posts/pfbid09ZrLmQcjMGTQCJdCwacLTVfVgShhSBfmesxRBhrAxArmR1LTZzDtN9C3KYXBtg3Ql">news release</a>&nbsp;that emergency crews rushed to the home around 3:15 a.m. after a 911 caller reported the explosion. Police and firefighters encountered secondary explosions upon arriving.

Within the debris of the destroyed home, they found the victim, the release said. The person's name wasn't immediately released.

The release said crews have been working to locate additional explosives, and the Nebraska State Patrol Bomb Squad is helping with testing.

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A body was found early Sunday after a Nebraska house explosion that authorities say was likely caused by “destructive devices.”Police in Hastings said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HastingsPoliceDepartmentNebraska/posts/pfbid09ZrLmQcjMGTQCJdCwacLTVfVgShhSBfmesxRBhrAxArmR1LTZzDtN9C3KYXBtg3Ql">news release</a>&nbsp;that emergency crews rushed to the home around 3:15 a.m. after a 911 caller reported the explosion. Police and firefighters encountered secondary explosions upon arriving.Within the debris of the destroyed home, they found the victim, the release said. The person's name wasn't immediately released.The release said crews have been working to locate additional explosives, and the Nebraska State Patrol Bomb Squad is helping with testing.

1 person dead after Hastings home exploded, sparking an investigation into 'destructive devices'

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sandra-day-oconnor">The late Justice Sandra Day O'Connor</a>, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism for more than two decades, lies in repose in the court's Great Hall on Monday.

O’Connor, an Arizona native,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-oconnor-first-woman-justice-304f91633f069c46350bdfff540ff9fe">died Dec. 1</a>&nbsp;at age 93.

Her casket was carried up the steps in front of the court, passing under the iconic words engraved on the pediment, “Equal Justice Under Law," and placed in the court's Great Hall. C-SPAN will broadcast a private ceremony held before the hall is open to the public, allowing people to pay their respects afterward, from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The last justice who lay in repose at the court was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ruth-bader-ginsburg-voting-rights-politics-joe-biden-elections-bf6704fa6e900967a705054c801a5495">Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a>, the second female justice. After her death in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ruth-bader-ginsburg-ap-top-news-virus-outbreak-courts-1b5420d9b3582e7ab8419989cea43a6f">mourners passed by her casket</a>&nbsp;outside the building, on the portico at the top of the steps.

Funeral services for O'Connor are set for Tuesday at Washington National Cathedral, where President Joe Biden and Chief Justice John Roberts are scheduled to speak.

O'Connor was nominated in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-us-supreme-court-politics-environment-kamala-harris-ddd600db8fd6930ebfd438c251b8a39a">subsequently confirmed by the Senate,</a>&nbsp;ending 191 years of male exclusivity on the high court. A rancher's daughter who was largely unknown on the national scene until her appointment, she received more letters than any one member in the court’s history in her first year and would come to be referred to as the nation’s most powerful woman.

She wielded considerable sway on the nine-member court, generally favoring states in disputes with the federal government and often siding with police when they faced claims of violating people’s rights. Her influence could perhaps best be seen, though, on the court’s rulings on abortion. She twice joined the majority in decisions that upheld and reaffirmed Roe v. Wade, the decision that said women have a constitutional right to abortion.

Thirty years after that decision,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">a more conservative court</a>&nbsp;overturned Roe, and the opinion was written by the man who took her place, Justice Samuel Alito.

O’Connor grew up riding horses, rounding up cattle and driving trucks and tractors on the family's sprawling Arizona ranch and developed a tenacious, independent spirit.

She was a top-ranked graduate of Stanford’s law school in 1952, but quickly discovered that most large law firms at the time did not hire women. One Los Angeles firm offered her a job as a secretary.

She built a career that included service as a member of the Arizona Legislature and state judge before her appointment to the Supreme Court at age 51. When she first arrived, she didn’t even have a place anywhere near the courtroom to go to the bathroom. That was soon rectified, but she remained the court’s only woman until 1993.

She retired at age 75, citing her husband’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease as her primary reason for leaving the court. John O'Connor died three years later, in 2009.

After her retirement, O'Connor remained active, sitting as a judge on several federal appeals courts, advocating for judicial independence and serving on the Iraq Study Group. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

She expressed regret that a woman had not been chosen to replace her, but lived to see a record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-oconnor-obituary-women-justices-fdda04cb0d18c0fd2086a062494f5f24">four women</a>&nbsp;now serving at the same time on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members_text.aspx">Supreme Court</a>.

She died in Phoenix, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness. Her survivors include her three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay, six grandchildren and a brother.

The family has asked that donations be made to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icivics.org/">iCivics</a>, the group she founded to promote civics education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702914683695.png" alt="Funeral services for O'Connor are set for Tuesday at Washington National Cathedral,Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Funeral services for O'Connor are set for Tuesday at Washington National Cathedral,Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sandra-day-oconnor">The late Justice Sandra Day O'Connor</a>, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism for more than two decades, lies in repose in the court's Great Hall on Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Justice Sonia Sotomayor: &quot;Sandra was a living example that women could take on any challenge, could more than hold their own in spaces dominated by men and could do so with grace.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SCOTUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SCOTUS</a> <a href="https://t.co/oH7ZkE6IuZ">pic.twitter.com/oH7ZkE6IuZ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1736766873826443570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>O’Connor, an Arizona native,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-oconnor-first-woman-justice-304f91633f069c46350bdfff540ff9fe">died Dec. 1</a>&nbsp;at age 93.Her casket was carried up the steps in front of the court, passing under the iconic words engraved on the pediment, “Equal Justice Under Law," and placed in the court's Great Hall. C-SPAN will broadcast a private ceremony held before the hall is open to the public, allowing people to pay their respects afterward, from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702915002478.png" alt="Sandra Day O’Connor, the nation’s first woman Supreme Court justice, lies in repose at the nation’s highest court in the land. She died at the age of 93 on December 1, 2023." />
 <figcaption>Sandra Day O’Connor, the nation’s first woman Supreme Court justice, lies in repose at the nation’s highest court in the land. She died at the age of 93 on December 1, 2023.</figcaption>
 </figure>The last justice who lay in repose at the court was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ruth-bader-ginsburg-voting-rights-politics-joe-biden-elections-bf6704fa6e900967a705054c801a5495">Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a>, the second female justice. After her death in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ruth-bader-ginsburg-ap-top-news-virus-outbreak-courts-1b5420d9b3582e7ab8419989cea43a6f">mourners passed by her casket</a>&nbsp;outside the building, on the portico at the top of the steps.Funeral services for O'Connor are set for Tuesday at Washington National Cathedral, where President Joe Biden and Chief Justice John Roberts are scheduled to speak.O'Connor was nominated in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-us-supreme-court-politics-environment-kamala-harris-ddd600db8fd6930ebfd438c251b8a39a">subsequently confirmed by the Senate,</a>&nbsp;ending 191 years of male exclusivity on the high court. A rancher's daughter who was largely unknown on the national scene until her appointment, she received more letters than any one member in the court’s history in her first year and would come to be referred to as the nation’s most powerful woman.She wielded considerable sway on the nine-member court, generally favoring states in disputes with the federal government and often siding with police when they faced claims of violating people’s rights. Her influence could perhaps best be seen, though, on the court’s rulings on abortion. She twice joined the majority in decisions that upheld and reaffirmed Roe v. Wade, the decision that said women have a constitutional right to abortion.Thirty years after that decision,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">a more conservative court</a>&nbsp;overturned Roe, and the opinion was written by the man who took her place, Justice Samuel Alito.O’Connor grew up riding horses, rounding up cattle and driving trucks and tractors on the family's sprawling Arizona ranch and developed a tenacious, independent spirit.She was a top-ranked graduate of Stanford’s law school in 1952, but quickly discovered that most large law firms at the time did not hire women. One Los Angeles firm offered her a job as a secretary.She built a career that included service as a member of the Arizona Legislature and state judge before her appointment to the Supreme Court at age 51. When she first arrived, she didn’t even have a place anywhere near the courtroom to go to the bathroom. That was soon rectified, but she remained the court’s only woman until 1993.She retired at age 75, citing her husband’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease as her primary reason for leaving the court. John O'Connor died three years later, in 2009.After her retirement, O'Connor remained active, sitting as a judge on several federal appeals courts, advocating for judicial independence and serving on the Iraq Study Group. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.She expressed regret that a woman had not been chosen to replace her, but lived to see a record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-oconnor-obituary-women-justices-fdda04cb0d18c0fd2086a062494f5f24">four women</a>&nbsp;now serving at the same time on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members_text.aspx">Supreme Court</a>.She died in Phoenix, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness. Her survivors include her three sons, Scott, Brian and Jay, six grandchildren and a brother.The family has asked that donations be made to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icivics.org/">iCivics</a>, the group she founded to promote civics education.

🎥Justice Sandra Day O'Connor lies in repose at Supreme Court

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/18/nebraska-brain-drain-persists-plus-another-alarm-is-raised-by-new-census-data/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Nebraska’s “brain drain” of people with a bachelor’s degree or higher leaving the state is persistent and worsening, according to newly released U.S. Census data.&nbsp;

But the same survey also raises an alarm about who else is fleeing.

“Notably, the data reveals that individuals 25 years and older with other (lesser) levels of educational attainment also are leaving the state,” says Josie Schafer of the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Her office, which consults with state policymakers and legislators about workforce and economic development patterns, analyzed migration-related findings from the American Community Survey’s five-year estimates through 2022, which were released this month.&nbsp;

Schafer said the data did not allow her to drill into specific reasons why the people with less education than a bachelor’s or professional degree might not be finding Nebraska as alluring as in the past.

She believes patterns could be driven by job availability, better wages and job benefits offered elsewhere, or perhaps quality of life factors such as housing and child care.&nbsp;

“The idea of Nebraska being a low cost-of-living-state — they might not be feeling it,” said Schafer.

Net migration by education annually, 2010-2022, according to five-year estimates of the American Community Survey. (Courtesy of Center for Public Affairs Research at UNO)

Chamber of Commerce officials in Nebraska have identified affordable “workforce” housing and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/18/child-care-services-spotlighted-as-key-to-reversing-nebraska-workforce-shortage/">child care as top challenges</a>&nbsp;to filling vacant jobs and spurring growth in communities across the state. They’ve also advocated for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/08/state-local-chambers-press-nebraska-delegation-for-smaller-scale-immigration-fixes/">change in the nation’s immigration</a>&nbsp;system to help supply new workers.

Erin Porterfield, executive director of nonprofit Heartland Workforce Solutions, which serves Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties, checked with network partners to better understand why their clients might be eyeing the exit door.

Among reasons cited are that negative experiences with racism “contribute to feeling unsafe” and to reduced employment and social opportunities.

“Feeling like Nebraska isn’t for everyone,” was another refrain, along with increased limits “on rights for people of diverse identities, including transgender care.”

Porterfield also said Nebraska is relatively early in establishing a solid “employment pipeline,” which leaves some young adults unclear about their employment and career opportunities.&nbsp;

While employers generally are “trying now, more than ever” to connect with young people to show what a career pathway could look like, she said, such linkages have a ways to go.

Especially for Nebraskans who need to support themselves financially after high school, Porterfield said, “they often feel lost.”

Meanwhile, said Schafer, the exodus of people with a bachelor’s degree or higher remains a “critical issue” for Nebraska.

Her analysis of the newly released survey data showed a sustained trend, with the state losing a net 4,610 people, compared to the previous year’s 4,415.&nbsp;

To be sure, there are still more than 400,000 individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher living in Nebraska. “Lots of people stay in Nebraska,” Schafer said, “But the fact the trend is continuing to be negative is certainly something that should give us pause.”

The idea of Nebraska being a low cost-of-living-state — they might not be feeling it.

– Josie Schafer, executive director of UNO Center for Public Affairs Research

Overall, while an estimated 31,600 people 25 and older left Nebraska in 2022, about 26,000 people moved into the state.

Schafer has said consistently that job opportunities, more so than taxes, tend to be top of mind when people choose to leave or come to Nebraska.

But earlier this year her office released an analysis, based on a separate federal survey, that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/12/survey-housing-surpasses-jobs-as-top-reason-nebraskans-moved-away/">revealed housing</a>&nbsp;— the challenge of finding it — as a top influencer of&nbsp; overall and more recent outmigration from Nebraska.&nbsp;

Yet another study this year by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said that immigrants and refugees historically have been a larger component of Nebraska population growth than incoming migration from other states.

From the 1990s through 2015, immigration to Nebraska increased annually by about 5%. But starting in 2017, immigration to the Husker state, as well as the nation, fell steadily.

Had Nebraska continued to add residents from abroad at the same rate prior to 2016, the Federal Reserve economists said, the state’s population by last year might have increased by an additional 19,000 individuals.

Lina Traslaviña Stover, executive director of the immigrant-focused and statewide Heartland Workers Center, suspects that innovative recruitment and retention strategies from competing states may be luring foreign-born workers that otherwise might be in Nebraska.

Anecdotally, she said, a construction business in Nebraska offers different types of work during cold months to keep its labor force on the payroll. “Perhaps we don’t have enough of those,” she said.

Traslaviña Stover said that in reality, she still sees foreign-born workers moving to Nebraska, including from states such as Florida. Those same people are willing to uproot if better opportunity beckons, she said.&nbsp;

“They already did the move once,” said Traslaviña Stover. “Why not twice or three times for what they consider to be better conditions.”

When it comes to “brain drain,” Nebraska is joined by bordering states of Iowa, Missouri and Wyoming, which also experienced a net loss of their more educated population.

Colorado, Kansas and South Dakota all saw “brain gain,” though the gains for Kansas and South Dakota were relatively small.

Nationally, big gainers of the more formally educated population were Florida, Texas and&nbsp; Arizona.

Schafer said those three states, along with Georgia and Tennessee, also were among the top states for 2022 gains in adults with education attainment of high school or less.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702910817098.jpeg" alt="Students on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)" />
 <figcaption>Students on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. (Courtesy of the University of Nebraska)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/18/nebraska-brain-drain-persists-plus-another-alarm-is-raised-by-new-census-data/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Nebraska’s “brain drain” of people with a bachelor’s degree or higher leaving the state is persistent and worsening, according to newly released U.S. Census data.&nbsp;But the same survey also raises an alarm about who else is fleeing.“Notably, the data reveals that individuals 25 years and older with other (lesser) levels of educational attainment also are leaving the state,” says Josie Schafer of the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.Her office, which consults with state policymakers and legislators about workforce and economic development patterns, analyzed migration-related findings from the American Community Survey’s five-year estimates through 2022, which were released this month.&nbsp;Consider:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>In&nbsp; 2022, the state lost an estimated 1,089 adults aged 25 and older with an education of high school diploma or less. While a relatively small slice, Schafer said that the drop marks a shift from several previous years when Nebraska was attracting individuals in that education group.</li><li>In the category of individuals with some college or an associate degree, Nebraska saw a net gain in 2022, though small: 35. For perspective, the state in 2019 had a net increase in that population of more than 2,000.</li>
 </ul>Schafer said the data did not allow her to drill into specific reasons why the people with less education than a bachelor’s or professional degree might not be finding Nebraska as alluring as in the past.She believes patterns could be driven by job availability, better wages and job benefits offered elsewhere, or perhaps quality of life factors such as housing and child care.&nbsp;“The idea of Nebraska being a low cost-of-living-state — they might not be feeling it,” said Schafer.Net migration by education annually, 2010-2022, according to five-year estimates of the American Community Survey. (Courtesy of Center for Public Affairs Research at UNO)Chamber of Commerce officials in Nebraska have identified affordable “workforce” housing and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/18/child-care-services-spotlighted-as-key-to-reversing-nebraska-workforce-shortage/">child care as top challenges</a>&nbsp;to filling vacant jobs and spurring growth in communities across the state. They’ve also advocated for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/08/state-local-chambers-press-nebraska-delegation-for-smaller-scale-immigration-fixes/">change in the nation’s immigration</a>&nbsp;system to help supply new workers.Erin Porterfield, executive director of nonprofit Heartland Workforce Solutions, which serves Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties, checked with network partners to better understand why their clients might be eyeing the exit door.Among reasons cited are that negative experiences with racism “contribute to feeling unsafe” and to reduced employment and social opportunities.“Feeling like Nebraska isn’t for everyone,” was another refrain, along with increased limits “on rights for people of diverse identities, including transgender care.”Porterfield also said Nebraska is relatively early in establishing a solid “employment pipeline,” which leaves some young adults unclear about their employment and career opportunities.&nbsp;While employers generally are “trying now, more than ever” to connect with young people to show what a career pathway could look like, she said, such linkages have a ways to go.Especially for Nebraskans who need to support themselves financially after high school, Porterfield said, “they often feel lost.”Meanwhile, said Schafer, the exodus of people with a bachelor’s degree or higher remains a “critical issue” for Nebraska.Her analysis of the newly released survey data showed a sustained trend, with the state losing a net 4,610 people, compared to the previous year’s 4,415.&nbsp;To be sure, there are still more than 400,000 individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher living in Nebraska. “Lots of people stay in Nebraska,” Schafer said, “But the fact the trend is continuing to be negative is certainly something that should give us pause.”The idea of Nebraska being a low cost-of-living-state — they might not be feeling it.– Josie Schafer, executive director of UNO Center for Public Affairs ResearchOverall, while an estimated 31,600 people 25 and older left Nebraska in 2022, about 26,000 people moved into the state.Schafer has said consistently that job opportunities, more so than taxes, tend to be top of mind when people choose to leave or come to Nebraska.But earlier this year her office released an analysis, based on a separate federal survey, that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/12/survey-housing-surpasses-jobs-as-top-reason-nebraskans-moved-away/">revealed housing</a>&nbsp;— the challenge of finding it — as a top influencer of&nbsp; overall and more recent outmigration from Nebraska.&nbsp;Yet another study this year by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said that immigrants and refugees historically have been a larger component of Nebraska population growth than incoming migration from other states.From the 1990s through 2015, immigration to Nebraska increased annually by about 5%. But starting in 2017, immigration to the Husker state, as well as the nation, fell steadily.Had Nebraska continued to add residents from abroad at the same rate prior to 2016, the Federal Reserve economists said, the state’s population by last year might have increased by an additional 19,000 individuals.Lina Traslaviña Stover, executive director of the immigrant-focused and statewide Heartland Workers Center, suspects that innovative recruitment and retention strategies from competing states may be luring foreign-born workers that otherwise might be in Nebraska.Anecdotally, she said, a construction business in Nebraska offers different types of work during cold months to keep its labor force on the payroll. “Perhaps we don’t have enough of those,” she said.Traslaviña Stover said that in reality, she still sees foreign-born workers moving to Nebraska, including from states such as Florida. Those same people are willing to uproot if better opportunity beckons, she said.&nbsp;“They already did the move once,” said Traslaviña Stover. “Why not twice or three times for what they consider to be better conditions.”When it comes to “brain drain,” Nebraska is joined by bordering states of Iowa, Missouri and Wyoming, which also experienced a net loss of their more educated population.Colorado, Kansas and South Dakota all saw “brain gain,” though the gains for Kansas and South Dakota were relatively small.Nationally, big gainers of the more formally educated population were Florida, Texas and&nbsp; Arizona.Schafer said those three states, along with Georgia and Tennessee, also were among the top states for 2022 gains in adults with education attainment of high school or less.

Nebraska ‘brain drain’ persists, plus another alarm is raised by new census data

CHICAGO (AP) — Quaker Oats on Friday recalled several of its granola products, including granola bars and cereals, saying the foods could be contaminated with salmonella.

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/174880/download?attachment">Click here to see </a>the complete list of recalled items

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-salmonella-cantaloupes-outbreak-9a32fba45d330f89fd0f7565d1fcbc10">Salmonella infections</a>&nbsp;can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, according to the Food and Drug Administration. In rare cases, the bacterial disease can be fatal.

Quaker, which is owned by PepsiCo, said in a news release that it has not received any reports of salmonella infections related to the recalled granola products. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/quaker-recalls-granola-bars-and-granola-cereals-due-possible-health-risk#recall-announcement">full list</a>&nbsp;of recalled foods includes granola oats cereals and Quaker Chewy Bars, which are also sold in PepsiCo’s snack mixes.

The affected products have been sold in all 50 U.S. states, as well as U.S. territories, Quaker said. The company is asking customers with recalled products to throw them away and contact its customer support line or visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.quakergranolarecall.com/">recall website</a>&nbsp;for more information and reimbursement.

According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1.35 million cases of salmonella infection occur in the U.S. each year, causing approximately 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702823846753.png" alt="Photo Quaker Oats" />
 <figcaption>Photo Quaker Oats</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — Quaker Oats on Friday recalled several of its granola products, including granola bars and cereals, saying the foods could be contaminated with salmonella.<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/174880/download?attachment">Click here to see </a>the complete list of recalled items<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-salmonella-cantaloupes-outbreak-9a32fba45d330f89fd0f7565d1fcbc10">Salmonella infections</a>&nbsp;can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, according to the Food and Drug Administration. In rare cases, the bacterial disease can be fatal.Quaker, which is owned by PepsiCo, said in a news release that it has not received any reports of salmonella infections related to the recalled granola products. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/quaker-recalls-granola-bars-and-granola-cereals-due-possible-health-risk#recall-announcement">full list</a>&nbsp;of recalled foods includes granola oats cereals and Quaker Chewy Bars, which are also sold in PepsiCo’s snack mixes.The affected products have been sold in all 50 U.S. states, as well as U.S. territories, Quaker said. The company is asking customers with recalled products to throw them away and contact its customer support line or visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.quakergranolarecall.com/">recall website</a>&nbsp;for more information and reimbursement.According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 1.35 million cases of salmonella infection occur in the U.S. each year, causing approximately 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths.

Quaker Oats recalls granola bars, cereals due to possible health risk

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is on a multi-day trip to the Middle East with stops in Israel, Qatar and Bahrain, according to&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Todd Lopez&nbsp;, in a statement from the Department of Defense. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown, also arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday, according to the Associated Press.

On Saturday, a U.S. warship shot down 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea and a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone that was targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-shipping-red-sea-navy-israel-6dc5fbff6d28fead5d6ef1224cba5a14">commercial ships,</a>&nbsp;the British and American militaries said.

Austin's trip also includes a visit to the USS Gerald R. Ford, which is underway now in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

In Israel, Austin will underscore the unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law, and he will also discuss steps Israel is taking to mitigate civilian harm.

The secretary is also expected to discuss with Israeli military leaders what are to be the next steps in the conflict after an eventual cessation of high-intensity ground operations and airstrikes, said a senior defense official at the Pentagon today.

"[Secretary Austin] has been having discussions with his Israeli counterparts the entire time about the different phases of their campaign, how they assess the different phases of their campaign, and what their operational milestones are in order to feel that their population can be secure enough given their stated objective of the military dismantlement of Hamas," the official said. "He wants to talk to them about how you move through those different phases."

While the conflict between Israel and Hamas is an Israeli campaign and it will ultimately be Israeli's decision on how to move to the next phase of operations, Austin is interested in learning more about their plans going forward, the official said.

"It's for [Israel] to determine when they assess that Hamas has been sufficiently degraded [so] that they can shift to the next phase of their campaign," the official said. "We, as the Department of Defense, and Secretary Austin in particular, I think, [have] incredibly valuable perspectives on this and that's what he wants to consult with them about."

In Bahrain, Austin is expected to visit U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. Part of the discussions there between the U.S. and Bahrain will involve U.S. efforts to convene multilateral coalitions to respond to aggression at sea that threatens shipping and the global economy.

"We will talk with them in a multinational framework about the work we're doing, particularly in light of increasing Houthi aggression in the Red Sea," the official said.

Since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the official said Qatar has played a critical role in helping the U.S. communicate with Hamas. That effort was critical in securing the agreement for the release of some hostages. Qatar was also recently named a "major non-NATO ally" of the U.S. and plays host to U.S. forces at Al Udeid Air Base. The secretary will visit that installation.

"Secretary Austin will express our gratitude to Qatar's national leaders for their partnership and their work with us on a range of regional and global objectives," the official said. He will also discuss with Qataris the upgrades they’re investing in at Al Udeid.

Another part of this trip, the official said, is a visit to the Ford.

"Secretary Austin wants to visit with the troops on that carrier," the official said. "They are missing the holidays with their families, and they have done an incredible service — not only for our country, but for the region."

The Ford, like the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, is in the Middle East now as part of the U.S. effort to make it clear that neither state or nonstate actors should hope to escalate the ongoing conflict beyond Gaza.

"What this visit to the Ford is about is an acknowledgment that we demonstrated what the National Defense Strategy means," the official said. "The Department of Defense retains the capability to dynamically and expeditiously flow force into any theater in response to a crisis or contingency while maintaining our commitments in other theaters. And that is exactly what we've done."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702861605041.png" alt="The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives in Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete for a scheduled port visit, Dec. 2, 2023. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa's area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.&nbsp;Photo By:Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Delaney S. Jensen" />
 <figcaption>The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives in Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete for a scheduled port visit, Dec. 2, 2023. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa's area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.&nbsp;Photo By:Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Delaney S. Jensen</figcaption>
 </figure>Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is on a multi-day trip to the Middle East with stops in Israel, Qatar and Bahrain, according to&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Todd Lopez&nbsp;, in a statement from the Department of Defense. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown, also arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday, according to the Associated Press. On Saturday, a U.S. warship shot down 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea and a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone that was targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-shipping-red-sea-navy-israel-6dc5fbff6d28fead5d6ef1224cba5a14">commercial ships,</a>&nbsp;the British and American militaries said.Austin's trip also includes a visit to the USS Gerald R. Ford, which is underway now in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.In Israel, Austin will underscore the unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law, and he will also discuss steps Israel is taking to mitigate civilian harm.The secretary is also expected to discuss with Israeli military leaders what are to be the next steps in the conflict after an eventual cessation of high-intensity ground operations and airstrikes, said a senior defense official at the Pentagon today."[Secretary Austin] has been having discussions with his Israeli counterparts the entire time about the different phases of their campaign, how they assess the different phases of their campaign, and what their operational milestones are in order to feel that their population can be secure enough given their stated objective of the military dismantlement of Hamas," the official said. "He wants to talk to them about how you move through those different phases."While the conflict between Israel and Hamas is an Israeli campaign and it will ultimately be Israeli's decision on how to move to the next phase of operations, Austin is interested in learning more about their plans going forward, the official said."It's for [Israel] to determine when they assess that Hamas has been sufficiently degraded [so] that they can shift to the next phase of their campaign," the official said. "We, as the Department of Defense, and Secretary Austin in particular, I think, [have] incredibly valuable perspectives on this and that's what he wants to consult with them about."In Bahrain, Austin is expected to visit U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. Part of the discussions there between the U.S. and Bahrain will involve U.S. efforts to convene multilateral coalitions to respond to aggression at sea that threatens shipping and the global economy."We will talk with them in a multinational framework about the work we're doing, particularly in light of increasing Houthi aggression in the Red Sea," the official said.Since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the official said Qatar has played a critical role in helping the U.S. communicate with Hamas. That effort was critical in securing the agreement for the release of some hostages. Qatar was also recently named a "major non-NATO ally" of the U.S. and plays host to U.S. forces at Al Udeid Air Base. The secretary will visit that installation."Secretary Austin will express our gratitude to Qatar's national leaders for their partnership and their work with us on a range of regional and global objectives," the official said. He will also discuss with Qataris the upgrades they’re investing in at Al Udeid.Another part of this trip, the official said, is a visit to the Ford."Secretary Austin wants to visit with the troops on that carrier," the official said. "They are missing the holidays with their families, and they have done an incredible service — not only for our country, but for the region."The Ford, like the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, is in the Middle East now as part of the U.S. effort to make it clear that neither state or nonstate actors should hope to escalate the ongoing conflict beyond Gaza."What this visit to the Ford is about is an acknowledgment that we demonstrated what the National Defense Strategy means," the official said. "The Department of Defense retains the capability to dynamically and expeditiously flow force into any theater in response to a crisis or contingency while maintaining our commitments in other theaters. And that is exactly what we've done."

Pentagon chief arrives in Middle East as attacks on US forces spike

(WEST POINT, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team have arrested a Blair man following a 17-hour standoff near West Point.

At approximately 5:00 a.m. Friday, NSP received a call for assistance from the Cuming County Sheriff’s Office. They had received a report of a person threatening self-harm at a location just west of West Point. The Sheriff’s Office obtained information that the subject was in possession of multiple firearms and had threatened to harm others the prior week.

Troopers, Sheriff’s Deputies, and the West Point Police Department set up a perimeter around the area, which was a field west of the Elkhorn River. Authorities determined that the subject was using a deer blind as shelter. Crisis Negotiators contacted the subject, but communication was sporadic throughout the day. Because of the location, authorities determined that there was no danger posed to bystanders or the town of West Point.

Troopers utilized drones at times to monitor the situation from a safe distance. Shortly after 2:00 p.m. the subject exited the deer blind with a firearm and shot down an NSP drone. The subject fired several more rounds throughout the incident and made additional threatening statements.

An arrest warrant was issued and the NSP SWAT Team was activated. The SWAT team used two NSP armored vehicles, known as MRAPs, to approach the deer blind. The suspect continued to fire rounds. After the suspect again refused to exit the deer blind, chemical munitions were deployed, but the suspect still refused to exit. At approximately 10:00 p.m., the SWAT Team utilized an MRAP to push the deer blind onto its side. At that point, the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect, identified as James Hynes, 70, of Blair, was arrested for making terroristic threats and obstruction. Additional charges are pending. He was medically cleared at the hospital in West Point and then lodged in Thurston County Jail.

No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident. Thank you to the West Point Police Department, Cuming County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Point Fire Department for their assistance.

Cody Thomas(WEST POINT, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team have arrested a Blair man following a 17-hour standoff near West Point.At approximately 5:00 a.m. Friday, NSP received a call for assistance from the Cuming County Sheriff’s Office. They had received a report of a person threatening self-harm at a location just west of West Point. The Sheriff’s Office obtained information that the subject was in possession of multiple firearms and had threatened to harm others the prior week.Troopers, Sheriff’s Deputies, and the West Point Police Department set up a perimeter around the area, which was a field west of the Elkhorn River. Authorities determined that the subject was using a deer blind as shelter. Crisis Negotiators contacted the subject, but communication was sporadic throughout the day. Because of the location, authorities determined that there was no danger posed to bystanders or the town of West Point.Troopers utilized drones at times to monitor the situation from a safe distance. Shortly after 2:00 p.m. the subject exited the deer blind with a firearm and shot down an NSP drone. The subject fired several more rounds throughout the incident and made additional threatening statements.An arrest warrant was issued and the NSP SWAT Team was activated. The SWAT team used two NSP armored vehicles, known as MRAPs, to approach the deer blind. The suspect continued to fire rounds. After the suspect again refused to exit the deer blind, chemical munitions were deployed, but the suspect still refused to exit. At approximately 10:00 p.m., the SWAT Team utilized an MRAP to push the deer blind onto its side. At that point, the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody without incident.The suspect, identified as James Hynes, 70, of Blair, was arrested for making terroristic threats and obstruction. Additional charges are pending. He was medically cleared at the hospital in West Point and then lodged in Thurston County Jail.No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident. Thank you to the West Point Police Department, Cuming County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Point Fire Department for their assistance.

Suspect in Custody After Lengthy Standoff Near West Point

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A quarter of U.S. congregations in the United Methodist Church have received permission to leave the denomination during a five-year window, closing this month, that authorized departures for congregations over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-f3fc3ec9e1f39501495d227d5a0963f8">disputes</a>&nbsp;involving the church's LGBTQ-related policies.

This year alone, 5,641 congregations received permission from their regional conferences to leave the denomination as of Thursday, according to an unofficial tally by United Methodist News. In total, 7,658 have received permission since 2019. Thursday marked the last scheduled regional vote, according to the news service, when the Texas Annual Conference authorized four congregations’ departures.

The vast major are conservative-leaning churches responding to what they see as the United Methodists' failure to enforce bans on same-sex marriage and the ordaining of openly LGBTQ persons.

The new year is expected to bring more changes.

The first denomination-wide legislative gathering in eight years, slated for spring 2024, will consider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-marriage-1ed8df15ecbb36700cbe638b29dc6617">calls to liberalize</a>&nbsp;policies on marriage and ordination. It will also debate rival proposals, either to decentralize the international church — which has at least as many members outside the United States as in — or provide overseas congregations with the same exit option their U.S. counterparts had.

The schism marks a historic shift in a denomination that was until recently the third largest in the United States, and perhaps the closest to the mainstream of American religious culture — its steeples prominent in rural crossroads and urban squares, scenes of countless potluck suppers, earnest social outreach, and warm yet decorous worship.

Many departing congregations have joined the more conservative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-f3fc3ec9e1f39501495d227d5a0963f8">Global Methodist Church</a>, with others joining smaller denominations, going independent or still considering their options.

United Methodist rules forbid same-sex marriage rites and the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals,” but progressive Methodist churches and regional governing bodies in the U.S. have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-marriage-1ed8df15ecbb36700cbe638b29dc6617">increasingly been defying</a>&nbsp;these rules.

Conservatives have mobilized like-minded congregations to exit. The Global Methodist Church has declared its intention to enforce such rules.

“We are sad about losing anybody,” said New York Area Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of the United Methodists’ Council of Bishops. “There’s also — at the end of the year — grief and trauma, parishioners that have said goodbye to friends, pastors who have had relationships over the years that have ended.”

He depicted the debates in the church as difficult, and said some who urged churches to disaffiliate used “falsehoods."

“This whole disaffiliation process has in large measure not been about human sexuality, it’s been about power, control and money. That’s surprising and disappointing,” Bickerton said. “It’s time for this denomination to pivot” to focusing on mission rather than disaffiliation votes.

The United Methodists reported having 30,543 U.S. churches as of 2019 and 6 million U.S. members as of 2021. It had at least one church in 95% of U.S. counties, more than any other religious group, according to the 2020 Religion Census, produced by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies.

There's no immediate estimate on how many individual members are leaving the UMC, since some members of departing congregations are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-disaffiliation-lgbtq-44fd14d471124d23e1fd5677a8f2b1d9">joining other UMC churches,</a>&nbsp;but the departing churches include some of the largest in their states. UMC officials are already preparing historic budget cuts to denominational agencies in anticipation of lower revenue from fewer churches.

The UMC also reports having 7 million members overseas as of 2019, the majority in Africa, where more conservative sexual mores are common.

In 2019, a special legislative gathering of Methodists voted to strengthen longstanding bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination. The votes came from a coalition of conservatives in the U.S. and overseas, particularly from fast-growing African churches. At the same time, that conference offered a five-year window for U.S. churches to leave under somewhat favorable terms, such as being able to keep their properties while compensating the denomination for certain costs.

That measure was expected to be used by progressive congregations dissenting with the letter of the church law, and a handful did take the church up on its offer. But in the end, the vast majority of departing congregations reflect conservative dismay over what they saw as the denomination's failure to discipline those defying church law, as well as other liberal trends.

In the legislative General Conference, scheduled for April and May in Charlotte, North Carolina, efforts to lift bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination are expected to have a strong chance, given the departure of many conservative votes.

The delegates will also consider a decentralization plan favored by progressives — which, among other things, would enable U.S. and overseas churches to set separate standards for ordination and marriage — and another sought by conservatives enabling overseas churches to leave under the same provisions that U.S. churches had.

The Rev. Keith Boyette, who is the Global Methodist Church’s top executive, said it has registered about 4,100 U.S. churches so far — former UMC churches as well as new ones organized by former United Methodists whose congregations voted to stay in the UMC. It has been organizing in other countries where United Methodist churches or individuals left that denomination, he said, such as Bulgaria, Slovakia, Kenya, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It’s unclear how many U.S. churches are going independent, but “the fact that so many churches have aligned indicates their commitment to wanting to be part of a connectional system,” Boyette said.

The Rev. Scott Field, president of the conservative Wesleyan Covenant Association, which has advocated for churches leaving the UMC, said congregations’ experiences varied in regional conferences, depending on what financial and other conditions they have required of churches. “It’s been punitive in some and it’s worked seamlessly in others,” he said.

Under the slogan, “Fair for some, fair for all,” the group will be advocating for overseas churches to have the same option to leave.

Field predicted “an African wave” of churches seeking to leave.

Several African bishops, however, issued a statement in 2022 denouncing efforts to get churches to leave as false and destructive.

Field also predicted many U.S. churches, despite missing the 2023 deadline, may try to exit under other church law provisions.

“We’d like every congregation, whether it’s a liberationist church or a solidly evangelical church, to end up where they’d like to be,” Field said. “It makes no sense for our United Methodist Church to attempt locking the gate.”

Jan Lawrence, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, said the personal toll of the schism is deep.

She knew members of a church that had an acrimonious break after it chose to disaffiliate. “It really broke relationships,” she said.

She expressed hope that the 2024 General Conference will open ordination and marriage rites to LGBTQ persons — realizing a decades-long goal for the network.

“Those churches that are disaffiliating and joining the Global Methodist Church, I hope they find what they’re looking for and they’re able to thrive as a new denomination,” she said. "I don’t know anyone that doesn’t want everybody to live into what they believe God is calling them to do.”

Bickerton said he particularly laments the departure of many churches that are longtime, rural-area fixtures.

“When Methodism came to the United States, it went to where the people were. It was carried in the saddlebags of the circuit riders,” he said.

A return to informal ministry may be needed to maintain a presence in many regions, he said.

“The hallmarks of United Methodism is a theology based on grace, hope, joy, love and justice,” he said. “Where do we send people strategically so that message can be heard?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702820221196.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By PETER SMITH&nbsp;KANSAS CITY (AP) —A quarter of U.S. congregations in the United Methodist Church have received permission to leave the denomination during a five-year window, closing this month, that authorized departures for congregations over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-f3fc3ec9e1f39501495d227d5a0963f8">disputes</a>&nbsp;involving the church's LGBTQ-related policies.This year alone, 5,641 congregations received permission from their regional conferences to leave the denomination as of Thursday, according to an unofficial tally by United Methodist News. In total, 7,658 have received permission since 2019. Thursday marked the last scheduled regional vote, according to the news service, when the Texas Annual Conference authorized four congregations’ departures.The vast major are conservative-leaning churches responding to what they see as the United Methodists' failure to enforce bans on same-sex marriage and the ordaining of openly LGBTQ persons.The new year is expected to bring more changes.The first denomination-wide legislative gathering in eight years, slated for spring 2024, will consider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-marriage-1ed8df15ecbb36700cbe638b29dc6617">calls to liberalize</a>&nbsp;policies on marriage and ordination. It will also debate rival proposals, either to decentralize the international church — which has at least as many members outside the United States as in — or provide overseas congregations with the same exit option their U.S. counterparts had.The schism marks a historic shift in a denomination that was until recently the third largest in the United States, and perhaps the closest to the mainstream of American religious culture — its steeples prominent in rural crossroads and urban squares, scenes of countless potluck suppers, earnest social outreach, and warm yet decorous worship.Many departing congregations have joined the more conservative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-f3fc3ec9e1f39501495d227d5a0963f8">Global Methodist Church</a>, with others joining smaller denominations, going independent or still considering their options.United Methodist rules forbid same-sex marriage rites and the ordination of “self-avowed practicing homosexuals,” but progressive Methodist churches and regional governing bodies in the U.S. have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-marriage-1ed8df15ecbb36700cbe638b29dc6617">increasingly been defying</a>&nbsp;these rules.Conservatives have mobilized like-minded congregations to exit. The Global Methodist Church has declared its intention to enforce such rules.“We are sad about losing anybody,” said New York Area Bishop Thomas Bickerton, president of the United Methodists’ Council of Bishops. “There’s also — at the end of the year — grief and trauma, parishioners that have said goodbye to friends, pastors who have had relationships over the years that have ended.”He depicted the debates in the church as difficult, and said some who urged churches to disaffiliate used “falsehoods."“This whole disaffiliation process has in large measure not been about human sexuality, it’s been about power, control and money. That’s surprising and disappointing,” Bickerton said. “It’s time for this denomination to pivot” to focusing on mission rather than disaffiliation votes.The United Methodists reported having 30,543 U.S. churches as of 2019 and 6 million U.S. members as of 2021. It had at least one church in 95% of U.S. counties, more than any other religious group, according to the 2020 Religion Census, produced by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies.There's no immediate estimate on how many individual members are leaving the UMC, since some members of departing congregations are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-disaffiliation-lgbtq-44fd14d471124d23e1fd5677a8f2b1d9">joining other UMC churches,</a>&nbsp;but the departing churches include some of the largest in their states. UMC officials are already preparing historic budget cuts to denominational agencies in anticipation of lower revenue from fewer churches.The UMC also reports having 7 million members overseas as of 2019, the majority in Africa, where more conservative sexual mores are common.In 2019, a special legislative gathering of Methodists voted to strengthen longstanding bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination. The votes came from a coalition of conservatives in the U.S. and overseas, particularly from fast-growing African churches. At the same time, that conference offered a five-year window for U.S. churches to leave under somewhat favorable terms, such as being able to keep their properties while compensating the denomination for certain costs.That measure was expected to be used by progressive congregations dissenting with the letter of the church law, and a handful did take the church up on its offer. But in the end, the vast majority of departing congregations reflect conservative dismay over what they saw as the denomination's failure to discipline those defying church law, as well as other liberal trends.In the legislative General Conference, scheduled for April and May in Charlotte, North Carolina, efforts to lift bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination are expected to have a strong chance, given the departure of many conservative votes.The delegates will also consider a decentralization plan favored by progressives — which, among other things, would enable U.S. and overseas churches to set separate standards for ordination and marriage — and another sought by conservatives enabling overseas churches to leave under the same provisions that U.S. churches had.The Rev. Keith Boyette, who is the Global Methodist Church’s top executive, said it has registered about 4,100 U.S. churches so far — former UMC churches as well as new ones organized by former United Methodists whose congregations voted to stay in the UMC. It has been organizing in other countries where United Methodist churches or individuals left that denomination, he said, such as Bulgaria, Slovakia, Kenya, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.It’s unclear how many U.S. churches are going independent, but “the fact that so many churches have aligned indicates their commitment to wanting to be part of a connectional system,” Boyette said.The Rev. Scott Field, president of the conservative Wesleyan Covenant Association, which has advocated for churches leaving the UMC, said congregations’ experiences varied in regional conferences, depending on what financial and other conditions they have required of churches. “It’s been punitive in some and it’s worked seamlessly in others,” he said.Under the slogan, “Fair for some, fair for all,” the group will be advocating for overseas churches to have the same option to leave.Field predicted “an African wave” of churches seeking to leave.Several African bishops, however, issued a statement in 2022 denouncing efforts to get churches to leave as false and destructive.Field also predicted many U.S. churches, despite missing the 2023 deadline, may try to exit under other church law provisions.“We’d like every congregation, whether it’s a liberationist church or a solidly evangelical church, to end up where they’d like to be,” Field said. “It makes no sense for our United Methodist Church to attempt locking the gate.”Jan Lawrence, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network, said the personal toll of the schism is deep.She knew members of a church that had an acrimonious break after it chose to disaffiliate. “It really broke relationships,” she said.She expressed hope that the 2024 General Conference will open ordination and marriage rites to LGBTQ persons — realizing a decades-long goal for the network.“Those churches that are disaffiliating and joining the Global Methodist Church, I hope they find what they’re looking for and they’re able to thrive as a new denomination,” she said. "I don’t know anyone that doesn’t want everybody to live into what they believe God is calling them to do.”Bickerton said he particularly laments the departure of many churches that are longtime, rural-area fixtures.“When Methodism came to the United States, it went to where the people were. It was carried in the saddlebags of the circuit riders,” he said.A return to informal ministry may be needed to maintain a presence in many regions, he said.“The hallmarks of United Methodism is a theology based on grace, hope, joy, love and justice,” he said. “Where do we send people strategically so that message can be heard?”____

Thousands of United Methodist churches in the US quit the denomination

WASHINGTON (AP) — When you buy eyedrops at a U.S. store, you might assume you're getting a product made in a clean, well-maintained factory that’s passed muster with health regulators.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-infection-cvs-rite-aid-a9471104de34efd152137d3fdba9c260">repeated recalls</a>&nbsp;involving over-the-counter drops are drawing new attention to just how little U.S. officials know about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-warning-india-11624105e31a68102d414594c85766f0">conditions</a>&nbsp;at some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1edfda229b11bf9f9181ff6a1271a6bc">manufacturing plants</a>&nbsp;on the other side of the world — and the limited tools they have to intervene when there's a problem.

The Food and Drug Administration is asking Congress for new powers, including the ability to mandate drug recalls and require eyedrop makers to undergo inspections before shipping products to the U.S. But experts say those capabilities will do little without more staff and resources for foreign inspections, which were a challenge even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced regulators to skip thousands of visits.

“The FDA is not getting its job done in terms of drug quality assurance inspections abroad,” said David Ridley of Duke University and co-author of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00686">recent paper</a>&nbsp;tracking the downturn in inspections. “Very few foreign drugmakers have been inspected in the past four years.”

In 2022, FDA foreign inspections were down 79% from 2019, according to agency records collected by Ridley's group. Inspections increased this year but are still far below pre-pandemic levels.

FDA spokesman Jeremy Kahn said: “The FDA works to inspect as many facilities possible, but ultimately industry is responsible for the quality of their products."

WASHINGTON (AP) — When you buy eyedrops at a U.S. store, you might assume you're getting a product made in a clean, well-maintained factory that’s passed muster with health regulators.But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-infection-cvs-rite-aid-a9471104de34efd152137d3fdba9c260">repeated recalls</a>&nbsp;involving over-the-counter drops are drawing new attention to just how little U.S. officials know about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-fda-warning-india-11624105e31a68102d414594c85766f0">conditions</a>&nbsp;at some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1edfda229b11bf9f9181ff6a1271a6bc">manufacturing plants</a>&nbsp;on the other side of the world — and the limited tools they have to intervene when there's a problem.The Food and Drug Administration is asking Congress for new powers, including the ability to mandate drug recalls and require eyedrop makers to undergo inspections before shipping products to the U.S. But experts say those capabilities will do little without more staff and resources for foreign inspections, which were a challenge even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced regulators to skip thousands of visits.“The FDA is not getting its job done in terms of drug quality assurance inspections abroad,” said David Ridley of Duke University and co-author of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00686">recent paper</a>&nbsp;tracking the downturn in inspections. “Very few foreign drugmakers have been inspected in the past four years.”In 2022, FDA foreign inspections were down 79% from 2019, according to agency records collected by Ridley's group. Inspections increased this year but are still far below pre-pandemic levels.FDA spokesman Jeremy Kahn said: “The FDA works to inspect as many facilities possible, but ultimately industry is responsible for the quality of their products."An October recall of two dozen eyedrop brands came after FDA staff found cracked floors, barefoot workers and other unsanitary conditions at a Mumbai plant that supplied products to CVS, Walmart and other major retailers. It was the first time FDA staff had visited the site.That inspection was prompted by an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-business-health-4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">earlier recall</a>&nbsp;of tainted eyedrops from a different Indian plant that's been linked to four&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-recall-ezicare-delsam-outbreak-2a0f0cc1273cc71b122702e6180492ca">deaths</a>&nbsp;and more than a dozen cases of vision loss. That&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eyedrops-infection-outbreak-fda-1e266befa854dc7c0ce65def0da9a0bc">plant</a>&nbsp;had also never been previously inspected.“These are very rare instances, but what we’ve seen is that these products can cause real harm,” said Dr. Timothy Janetos, an ophthalmologist at Northwestern University. “Something needs to change.”Experts point to three possible changes:EARLIER INSPECTIONSPrescription medicines are highly regulated. Before a drugmaker can sell one in the U.S., it must undergo FDA review to establish its safety and effectiveness. As part of the process, the FDA typically inspects the factory where the drug will be made.But eyedrops and other over-the-counter products don’t undergo preliminary review or inspections. Instead, they are governed by a different system called a monograph, essentially a generic recipe for all medicines in a particular class. So long as drugmakers attest that they are using the standard recipe, they can launch a product within days of filing with the FDA.“It’s nothing more than electronic paperwork,” said Dr. Sandra Brown of the Dry Eye Foundation, a nonprofit advocating for increased regulation. “There’s no requirement for the facility to be inspected prior to shipping for sale.”The FDA says it has flexibility to adjust its review process “to ensure safety."But the agency is asking Congress for the power to require manufacturers of eyedrops and other sterile products to give at least six months notice before shipping products from a new factory. That would give inspectors time to visit facilities that aren’t on their radar.The proposal could face pushback from some over-the-counter drugmakers, who aren’t accustomed to preapproval inspections.But Brown says the unique risks of tainted eyedrops require a different approach from pills and tablets.“Anything you swallow is going to meet up with your stomach acid, which is going to kill most bacteria," Brown said. “It’s much more dangerous to put a product in your eye.”REQUIRING RECALLSThe FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-consumers-not-purchase-or-use-certain-eye-drops-several-major-brands-due-risk-eye">warned consumers</a>&nbsp;in late October not to use the eyedrops sold at CVS, Rite-Aid and other stores. But the products weren’t officially recalled until Nov. 15, almost three weeks later.That's because Indian manufacturer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kilitch-healthcare-india-limited-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-various-eye-drops-potential">Kilitch Healthcare</a>, initially declined to cooperate. The FDA can force recalls of food, medical devices and many other products, but it lacks the same authority for drugs and instead must ask companies to voluntarily take action.The FDA recently asked Congress for mandatory recall authority over drugs.FUNDING FOREIGN INSPECTORSSince the 1990s, drug manufacturing has increasingly moved to India, China and other lower-cost countries.The Government Accountability Office has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-103611">raised concerns</a>&nbsp;for years about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-china-us-news-medication-health-care-industry-699f56acec5542ffbc4aa95b8ce6a0cf">FDA’s oversight</a>&nbsp;of the global supply chain, flagging it as a&nbsp;<a href="https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-23-106203/index.html#appendix26">“high-risk” issue</a>&nbsp;for more than a decade.The FDA said in a statement it uses “all available tools” to ensure Americans get “high quality, safe and effective” medications.The agency generally prioritizes factories that have never been inspected or haven’t been inspected in the last five years. It halted most routine, in-person foreign inspections in March 2020 and did not resume them until 2022. The agency didn’t conduct any inspections in India during the first year of COVID-19.FDA leaders have long said it's challenging to recruit and keep overseas inspectors.Experts say Congress can and should address that.